Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua beat Finnish stand-in Robert Helenius with a seventh round single-punch knockout on Saturday to keep himself on track for a lucrative payday against American Deontay Wilder next year. Helenius, stepping in after Britain's Dillian Whyte was ruled out of the non-title fight by a dope test a week ago, lasted longer than expected but crashed to the canvas one minute and 27 seconds into the round.

Some of the crowd at London's 02, who had grown restless with some booing already in the third round, were heading for the exit by then as Joshua failed to deliver immediate fireworks. The big Briton looked nervous and stiff at the start and strangely tentative when Helenius, who fought in Finland only a week ago, appeared to be out on his legs and ready for the taking.

Joshua climbed straight out of the ring without saying a word after referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest. He then fist-bumped fans, stopping to share a swig of a drink with watching former UFC champion Conor McGregor, before stepping back inside the ropes.

Helenius meanwhile received medical attention and some oxygen before getting back on his feet. "I knew this would happen, everyone's talking about the new AJ and the old AJ and after two or three rounds the crowd starts to get a little bit impatient," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told the BBC. "He finds the measure of his right hand and he delivers one of the knockouts of the year on Robert Helenius... this is just the AJ you're going to see now. "He's still got to be more aggressive than we saw tonight but there's a lot on the line."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-jannik-sinner-thrashes-tommy-paul-to-set-up-canadian-open-final-clash-with-alex-de-minaur-624955">Tennis: Jannik Sinner thrashes Tommy Paul to set up Canadian Open final clash with Alex De Minaur</a>

The knockout was the 23rd of Joshua's career, taking his record to 26 wins and three defeats, but his first since December 2020 when he beat Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in a WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO title defence in London.

Joshua lost those belts to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021. There has been talk of Joshua fighting Wilder, the former WBC champion, next year but the Briton needs to keep winning to be talked about in the same breath as the American and reigning champion Tyson Fury.

"It's hard for him to get up for fights like this," said Hearn. "The Wilder fights, the Fury fights, that's what he wants."

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Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua beat Finnish stand-in Robert Helenius with a seventh round single-punch knockout on Saturday to keep himself on track for a lucrative payday against American Deontay Wilder next year.

Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua beat Finnish stand-in Robert Helenius with a seventh round single-punch knockout on Saturday to keep himself on track for a lucrative payday against American Deontay Wilder next year. Helenius, stepping in after Britain's Dillian Whyte was ruled out of the non-title fight by a dope test a week ago, lasted longer than expected but crashed to the canvas one minute and 27 seconds into the round. Some of the crowd at London's 02, who had grown restless with some booing already in the third round, were heading for the exit by then as Joshua failed to deliver immediate fireworks. The big Briton looked nervous and stiff at the start and strangely tentative when Helenius, who fought in Finland only a week ago, appeared to be out on his legs and ready for the taking. Joshua climbed straight out of the ring without saying a word after referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest. He then fist-bumped fans, stopping to share a swig of a drink with watching former UFC champion Conor McGregor, before stepping back inside the ropes. Helenius meanwhile received medical attention and some oxygen before getting back on his feet. "I knew this would happen, everyone's talking about the new AJ and the old AJ and after two or three rounds the crowd starts to get a little bit impatient," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told the BBC. "He finds the measure of his right hand and he delivers one of the knockouts of the year on Robert Helenius... this is just the AJ you're going to see now. "He's still got to be more aggressive than we saw tonight but there's a lot on the line." Also read: Tennis: Jannik Sinner thrashes Tommy Paul to set up Canadian Open final clash with Alex De Minaur The knockout was the 23rd of Joshua's career, taking his record to 26 wins and three defeats, but his first since December 2020 when he beat Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in a WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO title defence in London. Joshua lost those belts to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021. There has been talk of Joshua fighting Wilder, the former WBC champion, next year but the Briton needs to keep winning to be talked about in the same breath as the American and reigning champion Tyson Fury. "It's hard for him to get up for fights like this," said Hearn. "The Wilder fights, the Fury fights, that's what he wants." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Boxing: Ex-heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua beats Robert Helenius with seventh-round knockout

American boxer Patrick Day was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-fighter-patrick-day-in-coma-after-vicious-knockout-report-255589">fighting for his life</a> in critical condition in hospital on Sunday night after lapsing into a coma following a vicious knockout by Charles Conwell the night before.

The 27-year-old Day suffered a "traumatic injury" and underwent emergency brain surgery Saturday night after being knocked out by Conwell in a super welterweight bout on the card at Chicago's Winstrust Arena.

"Patrick is in a coma caused by the injury and is in extremely critical condition," said fight promoter Lou DiBella. "We appreciate the outpouring of support, prayers and offers of assistance from all corners of the boxing community."

Day is in intensive care in Northwestern Memorial hospital. No specific details of Day's injuries were provided by the promoter.

Conwell asked his social media followers to pray for Day's recovery. "Keep him in your prayers!! #prayforpatrickday," he wrote on his Twitter page.&nbsp;

"Pat Day makes any room he is in a better place. Never saw him greet someone without a big smile," DiBella wrote on Twitter. "Life doesn't seem fair sometimes. Please keep Pat in your prayers, thoughts and hearts."

Day was unconscious when he was taken from the ring in a stretcher and loaded onto a waiting ambulance. He suffered a seizure in the ambulance and needed a breathing tube once he arrived at the hospital.

Conwell, a 2016 American Olympian, was dominating the fight dropping Day in the fourth and eighth rounds and then landing a right hand in the 10th which caused Day to stumble.&nbsp;

Seconds later he rocked Day with a massive left hook that resulted in Day falling backwards and his head bouncing off the canvas. Referee Celestino Ruiz called off the fight at one minute, 46 seconds of the round.

Day lay on the canvas for several minutes while receiving medical treatment before being removed from the ring.&nbsp;

Day was coming off a loss in June to Carlos Adames in New York. He has 17 wins and four losses and one draw in his pro career which began in 2013.

Day was fighting on the undercard of Russian Dmitry Bivol's successful World Boxing Association light-heavyweight world title defence over Lenin Castillo.

American boxer Patrick Day was fighting for his life in critical condition in hospital on Sunday night after lapsing into a coma following a vicious knockout by Charles Conwell the night before.

American boxer Patrick Day was fighting for his life in critical condition in hospital on Sunday night after lapsing into a coma following a vicious knockout by Charles Conwell the night before. The 27-year-old Day suffered a "traumatic injury" and underwent emergency brain surgery Saturday night after being knocked out by Conwell in a super welterweight bout on the card at Chicago's Winstrust Arena. "Patrick is in a coma caused by the injury and is in extremely critical condition," said fight promoter Lou DiBella. "We appreciate the outpouring of support, prayers and offers of assistance from all corners of the boxing community." Day is in intensive care in Northwestern Memorial hospital. No specific details of Day's injuries were provided by the promoter. Conwell asked his social media followers to pray for Day's recovery. "Keep him in your prayers!! #prayforpatrickday," he wrote on his Twitter page. "Pat Day makes any room he is in a better place. Never saw him greet someone without a big smile," DiBella wrote on Twitter. "Life doesn't seem fair sometimes. Please keep Pat in your prayers, thoughts and hearts." Day was unconscious when he was taken from the ring in a stretcher and loaded onto a waiting ambulance. He suffered a seizure in the ambulance and needed a breathing tube once he arrived at the hospital. Conwell, a 2016 American Olympian, was dominating the fight dropping Day in the fourth and eighth rounds and then landing a right hand in the 10th which caused Day to stumble. Seconds later he rocked Day with a massive left hook that resulted in Day falling backwards and his head bouncing off the canvas. Referee Celestino Ruiz called off the fight at one minute, 46 seconds of the round. Day lay on the canvas for several minutes while receiving medical treatment before being removed from the ring. Day was coming off a loss in June to Carlos Adames in New York. He has 17 wins and four losses and one draw in his pro career which began in 2013. Day was fighting on the undercard of Russian Dmitry Bivol's successful World Boxing Association light-heavyweight world title defence over Lenin Castillo.

US boxer Patrick Day 'extremely critical' after devastating knockout

American Patrick Day was in a coma after suffering a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-fighter-patrick-day-hospitalized-after-big-knockout-by-charles-conwell-255546">serious head injury</a> Saturday night following a vicious knockout by unbeaten Charles Conwell during a boxing card in Chicago, US media reported.

The 27-year-old Day was unconscious when he was taken from the ring in a stretcher and loaded onto a waiting ambulance at the Wintrust Arena. Fight broadcaster DAZN said Day suffered a seizure in the ambulance and needed a breathing tube once he arrived at the hospital.

US sports broadcaster ESPN reported that Day had emergency brain surgery and went into a coma, but did not say whether he fell into the coma or it was induced by the doctors.&nbsp;

No details of the head injury were given and the promoter, Matchroom Boxing, did not issue a statement on Saturday night other than to say Day was transported to a local hospital.

"Please pray for Pat!! Come home safe!," Conwell wrote on his social media Twitter account following the fight.

Conwell, a 2016 American Olympian, was dominating the super welterweight fight dropping Day in the fourth and eighth rounds and then landed a right hand in the 10th which caused Day to stumble.&nbsp;

Seconds later he rocked Day with a massive left hook that resulted in Day falling backwards and his head bouncing off the canvas. Referee Celestino Ruiz called off the fight at one minute, 46 seconds of the round.

Day lay on the canvas for several minutes while receiving medical treatment before being removed from the ring.&nbsp;

Day was coming off a loss in June to Carlos Adames in New York. He has 17 wins and four losses and one draw in his pro career which began in 2013.

Day was fighting on the undercard of Russian Dmitry Bivol's World Boxing Association light-heavyweight world title defence against Lenin Castillo.

American Patrick Day was in a coma after suffering a serious head injury Saturday night following a vicious knockout by unbeaten Charles Conwell during a boxing card in Chicago, US media reported.

American Patrick Day was in a coma after suffering a serious head injury Saturday night following a vicious knockout by unbeaten Charles Conwell during a boxing card in Chicago, US media reported. The 27-year-old Day was unconscious when he was taken from the ring in a stretcher and loaded onto a waiting ambulance at the Wintrust Arena. Fight broadcaster DAZN said Day suffered a seizure in the ambulance and needed a breathing tube once he arrived at the hospital. US sports broadcaster ESPN reported that Day had emergency brain surgery and went into a coma, but did not say whether he fell into the coma or it was induced by the doctors. No details of the head injury were given and the promoter, Matchroom Boxing, did not issue a statement on Saturday night other than to say Day was transported to a local hospital. "Please pray for Pat!! Come home safe!," Conwell wrote on his social media Twitter account following the fight. Conwell, a 2016 American Olympian, was dominating the super welterweight fight dropping Day in the fourth and eighth rounds and then landed a right hand in the 10th which caused Day to stumble. Seconds later he rocked Day with a massive left hook that resulted in Day falling backwards and his head bouncing off the canvas. Referee Celestino Ruiz called off the fight at one minute, 46 seconds of the round. Day lay on the canvas for several minutes while receiving medical treatment before being removed from the ring. Day was coming off a loss in June to Carlos Adames in New York. He has 17 wins and four losses and one draw in his pro career which began in 2013. Day was fighting on the undercard of Russian Dmitry Bivol's World Boxing Association light-heavyweight world title defence against Lenin Castillo.

US fighter Patrick Day in coma after vicious knockout: Report

US fighter Patrick Day was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/russian-boxer-maxim-dadashev-dies-after-fight-238026">hospitalized after a brutal knockout</a> by unbeaten Charles Conwell in a super welterweight bout in Chicago on Saturday.

Fight broadcaster DAZN reported Day, who was taken from the ring on a stretcher, did not regain consciousness before leaving the Wintrust Arena and had a seizure as he was put in an ambulance.

Conwell had dropped 27-year-old Day in the fourth and eighth rounds and knocked him out with a massive left hook in the 10th round.

The fight was on the undercard of Russian Dmitry Bivol's World Boxing Association light-heavyweight world title defence against Lenin Castillo.

The co-feature on the card is former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight debut against Chazz Witherspoon.

US fighter Patrick Day was hospitalized after a brutal knockout by unbeaten Charles Conwell in a super welterweight bout in Chicago on Saturday. Fight broadcaster DAZN reported Day, who was taken from the ring on a stretcher, did not regain consciousness before leaving the Wintrust Arena and had a seizure as he was put in an ambulance.

US fighter Patrick Day was hospitalized after a brutal knockout by unbeaten Charles Conwell in a super welterweight bout in Chicago on Saturday. Fight broadcaster DAZN reported Day, who was taken from the ring on a stretcher, did not regain consciousness before leaving the Wintrust Arena and had a seizure as he was put in an ambulance. Conwell had dropped 27-year-old Day in the fourth and eighth rounds and knocked him out with a massive left hook in the 10th round. The fight was on the undercard of Russian Dmitry Bivol's World Boxing Association light-heavyweight world title defence against Lenin Castillo. The co-feature on the card is former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight debut against Chazz Witherspoon.

US fighter Patrick Day hospitalized after knockout by Charles Conwell

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